Travelodge Building Pop-Up Prefab Hotels

We previously showed the Travelpod, an experimental prefab from Travelodge, and thought it was an interesting one-off. We were wrong; the company is looking seriously at prefab hotels and is building their first in the west London district of Uxbridge, right now. it is like a pop-up prefab:

"It could facilitate the creation of hotels on a temporary basis at times of peak demand in certain locations -- such as festivals or sporting events," the firm's director of property and development Paul Harvey said. "A temporary structure to fill such a need would differ to the design of a permanent hotel but it could be built in as little as 12 weeks and removed quickly at the end of the event when the need is gone."

According to Reuters, the modules were imported from China with bathrooms already installed, with windows fitted and furnishings and decorations added once the containers have been put together.

But for future hotels, the firm hopes even the furnishing and decoration could be done in China.

Travelodge says using the Chinese-built modules is 25 percent faster and 10 percent cheaper, making it a core part of their strategy to become the largest hotel operator in London by the 2012 Olympics.

The firms behind the modular design -- Verbus Systems, a joint-venture between consulting engineers Buro Happold and constructor George & Harding -- say the modular system could also be used for student accommodation and urban housing. ::Reuters

Verbus says "The Verbus system works by using prefabricated bedroom modules which arrive partially or fully fitted-out. When on site the modules are locked together and the internal fit-out is completed. Once all modules are in place the building is finished with a traditional brickwork, render or cladding exterior and a pitched or flat roof." - we think it looks a lot better under construction, but that will come.